New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-21
THE MUCH-ABUSED ALLAN Ia
c.or,tv RI,NCE'S REPORT chi



-u.r NAVAL OFFICERS SAY OF Inn
r,ox AND THE ROACH CRUISERS
IA o,,areotly require an exceedingly
o.r,,I n;croscope and the patience, perSe'ci-
o .,dl lantern of old Dogenes to discover 0oi
ro.s cnord of naval officers VINO aerco WIN
Cantain Bunc.'s report regarding the nc" ~
c,n,ser Atlanta Those vino do concur III MS ot"
tons are rlre BIRDS and hy 81 bigh ana so''
:~, ,hat the Atlanta's best gun could scarcc'1
reacb them reporter went cunning laS' "
in the localities where these aquatic gem ..a
conrrccate. and though several goou SiN'u n..a
were met with only one spccliheu VI '"V r ;,h
genus was bagscl, and he was P'
qralfcI ItionS. .;,o oonsor
- ,vbo systematically subordinates his pollti-
cal leanings to the honor and promOtloh OF HIS pi
fess;on The most experienced ana ih'ehleen' oi
those who expressed their views to the reporter
los, evening were the most pronounced Ill theIr
ro,scs Of the Atlanta and her sister ship. the Bos
ION. and the most unspaIing Ill their criticisms
rpon the conduct of the present Administration
with reference 10 those vessels.
SUFFERING LIKE ALL III oNrEEs.
Che earliest Christians had the hardest time OF
il" remarked one OF these officers. And 1t is SO
with improvements in the Navy. Innovation, no
matter how meritOrious, must be promptly sat
down upon especially if it is introduced by poll
tical opponent. | am myself an ardent opponent
of fex Secretary Chandler who made the contracts
with John Roach to build these ships. in everything
except his services to the Navy. For them he Is
deserving of the highest praise. He was the most
energetic and hardest working Secretary we nave
had since the War Secretary Whitney is of my
own polItlcal complexion and is the man | should
like to see our next President but he
is not a bit of use in his present
o;.,o, He c,ma into office ne W -brOo n fashion,
with big promises of sweeping away all the cob
webs ana mildew which encountered the Depart
m,ht and he has done nothing.
The delay in the completion OF the Boston. OF
example" he continued is nothing short OF
scandal for it is the result solely of pohilca
trick. 1t is in fact of piece with and a contlnua
tion of the plot against John Roach. She might
he ready for sea in a month If the work were gone
about on business principles but most OF the WORK
men now at the Navy Yard are political bench
men and hcelers who hold their billets by favor
"a her than on account of their skill. and are now
working from four to five hours day while receiving
nav for eight hours Nobody dares 10 interfere
because il would dispease the 'pawty.
FACTS THAT SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
"From what Secretary Whitney sad in yester-
davis Tribune observed another officer
lit appears that he has properly sized up
CAPTAIN Bunces objections Nonsense
said the first speaker lhtso e'ai"s
facts remain The Atlanta has been about two
wears in commission and is now denounced as
worthless by her commander against the sense ana
Judgment of the best authorities and III the teeth
of the facts She developed much higher horse
power and greater speed than were required DIV lnc
contract and the workmanship upon hrr IS PrD-
nonnced bv experts TO be of the very highest order
Motives sometimes sick out clearly that there Is
10 mistaking them, and II Is so III
this case Fortune favors the brave
and the favorite. This Administration has
done all they couId to damn these vessels Dul q
man who could hit them a knock-doWn dow was
sn,e of his reward The hour and the man nave
come and visions of soft berth now tlat thelr
ftiul cruise is over are IN order, ~
The next speaker took mp the subject OF the DOS
ton She lies over there at the Navy Yard ilke an
abandoned hulk OF house In an infested ulstrlcl
winch the protector had decided not TO carry 10
completion. And why IL tins so L. ike NY
friend who has Just gone over to the Manhattan
Club am n Democrat, but am 50 SICK on me hoA-
jons mixture of politics with the Government
bu .iness that don't mind tell ling You nv OPINION
Ii should be remembered that the designs LOT thee
Atlanta ani the Boston were approved Oy Adihitdi
Simpson one of the most honest and lcVel-headed
men IN tins country, and that they never
Mould have received his Endorsement unicss
they had been up to the highest mark attained III
naval construction at the time. But shIpbuildlng,
ike ther mechanical sciences. Is progressive anu
of course we can learn much IRON the advance
ment made since the keels Of these Vesscis were
laid. Their ml-sIght may prove ,lseiuI 10 tue
present Administration, If they makes haste' put
however great NAV be their success with the
vessels they have projected, IT cannot
free them from the stigma OF malciouslN prevent,
ing the completion of vessels like the hicago and
Boston. which dead loss to the Government III
their present state